Frozen Love: Jelsa

Chapter 11

       Jack

        Of course Jack wasn't going to leave Elsa alone. After all, Pitch had very clearly threatened her life, and he knew that he would be her best protection. He just knew that if he told her that he was going to keep an eye on her, she would've protested that she could take care of herself. Still, Jack couldn't leave her undefended, so he turned back to the palace and stole into her bedroom window.

As he was just starting to conjure up icy animals for his own entertainment, Jack heard a murmuring emerge from Elsa's sleeping lips. He rushed over to her bedside and leaned in. Galloping above Elsa's head was a Nightmare. Its misty black mane churned around her silvery hair and its golden eyes seemed to flicker evilly when her blissful expression was disrupted by the terrifying images probably playing through her mind. She started tossing and turning on the mattress when suddenly her eyes shot open. 

            "No! Jack!" she gasped, looking around. He tried to calm her down by talking to her soothingly.

            "Elsa. Shh. It's me, Jack, you're okay." Jack took her in his arms and held her close to his chest. He yearned to make her feel better, to fix all of her problems with a flick of the wrist, but he knew that nothing was that easy. Pitch was trying to get into her mind, as if she were just another pawn in his sick game. Elsa finally seemed to calm down when he stroked her hair lightly and kissed her on the head. She lay her head back down onto the pillow and whispered,

"I'm scared. Could you stay with me until I fall asleep?" There was so much vulnerability in those words that it brought tears to Jack's eyes. He lay down on the bed next to her and caressed her cold hands. He needed some way to comfort her, and the words seemed to come to him like lightning in a storm.

 "You know," he whispered, "I once heard of this flower, called Edelweiss. It's found in Austria, and it's not particularly pretty or colorful, just plain white." He paused; listening to Elsa's breathing filling the silence before proceeding. "But, it's known for how it can survive harsh climates, thriving mostly on cold mountaintops. The Austrians actually admire it for its rugged beauty and even use it for healing purposes. I know it sounds stupid, but sometimes I think that I have to be enduring like Edelweiss." The quiet that followed seemed like preparation for what came next. Quietly at first, but soon getting stronger, Jack began to sing. Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Every morning you greet me./ Small and white, clean and bright, you look happy to meet me./ Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow, bloom and grow, forever./  Edelweiss, Edelweiss, bless my homeland forever.

 Afterwards, Elsa muttered, "you never cease to amaze me, Frosty Boy." Jack chuckled at this, saying, "Yeah, well I'm full of surprises." And with that, they were both hushed once more and had fallen asleep within minutes.

 * * *      * * *

            When Jack woke up early that morning, Elsa was still snoozing on the mattress, sprawled out and smiling slightly. He didn't want to disturb her, so he slowly pushed himself off the bed and walked over to the window. Stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, Jack could feel the smooth, slick glass surface of North's snow globe. He had almost forgotten that it was there, but there it was. Would he be able to let Elsa go after the week was over? His thoughts were interrupted by the groans of Elsa awakening. She stretched her arms out wide and yawned. "How ya feeling?" Jack inquired. 

"All right. I really need to get to work. Anna's probably been wondering where I've been." But before she left the bedroom, Elsa walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his stomach, embracing him and making him feel warmer than he ever had, despite her icy skin. Elsa lifted her head to gaze into Jack's blue eyes. He slowly leaned forward, resting his hand on the small of her back. When their lips touched, he kept expecting her to disappear, like everything he had ever known or grown attached to. But she stayed there, leaning into him, but not for total support. She could stand on her own. However, Jack knew that there would come a time when his immortality would cause a rift between them.